Flying machine safety device



Allg. 30, 1932. N, P BRUNO 1,874,237

FLYING MACHINE SAFETY DEVICE Filed July 22, 1930 I Patented Aug. 30,1932 UNITED STATES `NICHOLAS P. BRUNO, F ERIE. PENNSYLVANIA FLYINGMACHINE SAFETY DEVICE Application led July 22,

The object of my invention is to provide dependable means for escapefrom a flying machine 'when because of a stall-ed engine or otheroccurrence which would precipitatethe f machine to the earth escape orexit therefrom with a parachute, becomes necessary. In

particular my Objectis to provide means requiring the minimum of thoughtand action on the part of the endangered person, and w especially anythought or action on his part in regard to the manipulation of theparachute. My invention contemplates the detachable'connection of theseat from the body or fuselage and its positive removal or expulsionfrom the fuselage along with a proper parachute which will openautomatically without any thought or attention on the part of the seatoccupant' as soon as possible after expulsion from the fuselage and fallor descent of the seat with its occupant begins. The fundamental idea orprinciple of my invention may be embodied variously and aic cordingly myinvention consists not merely 1 n what is shown in the drawing as anembodlment of. my invention and is described hereinafter in thisspecification, but in whatever is described by or is included within theterms or scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing, I illustrate my invention applied to an airplane inwhich drawingig. 1 is a perspective view of an airplane to illustrate myinvention, with the seat shown immediately after its expulsion;

Fig. 2 is a like view showing the parachutes distended;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section with the seat 1n position in thefuselage;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fi 3' Igigf is aperspective view of the seatlocking and releasing mechanism.

Describing in detail what is shown in the drawing, within the fuselage10, is placed any desired number of chairs each including a seat orbottom, 11, with sides, l2, and back, 13, the seat on the undersidebeing engageable by an upward and outward expelling device against theaction of which the chair is normally held by a releasable latch device,which remains in chair-locking position un- 1930. Serial No; 469,773.

til the emergency arises for the expulsion of the chair with itsoccupant from the machine. Such expelling device may consi'stvas shown,

of one or more spring or elastic bands or straps, 14, which extendtransversely of the fuselage beneath the seat and with their oppositeends secured to the frame work at a sufficiently high point that Ywhenthe chair is in normal position, the bands are stretched and placedunder tension extending beneath the seat and upwards along the sidesofthe chair. Upon opposite sides the seat engages vertically extendingguide bars, 15, over which the seat slides when the expelling devic-'eacts and which serves to position the 65 seat when lin normal positionfor use. Said vertical bars preferably incline upward and rearward sothat when the chair is acted upon by the expelling device, the chairwill move not only upward but rearward for the purpose of contributingto the clearance of the airplane by the chair when expelled therefromand thus avoid the danger of the chair on descending becoming fouledwith the airplane. Of course, the expelling device should have powerenough to assure that the seat and its occupant will be thrown clear ofthe airplane or flying machine.

The chair is latched in norma-l position preferably by four pivotedlatches 16 one to 80 engage a latch plate, 17 on the underside of 4 theseat at each of the four corners thereof. Each latch is enga-ged oracted upon by a suitable spring, 18, that holds it in seat-lock inglposition by moving the latch inward. 35 Release ofthe seat is effectedby outward movement of each latch and for that purpose each is connectedby a flexible chain or cord, 19, that passes outward from the latch thendownward and then over an anti-friction go roller, 20, horizontally to arod or bar, 21, that extends longitudinally of the fuselage below thebottom thereof. There are two such rods, one at each side and to each isconnected two of the latches. -Said rods are -connected near their endsby contractile coil springs, 22, which normally tend to draw themtogether and to pull upon the cord or chain connected to the latches tomove the latches to release them from the chair. Norm0 mally said rods..are spread apart against the action of said contractile springs by aflattened, cross bar, 23, which at each end has a notch, 24, whosesurfaces are engaged by the 5 inner side of each of said rods until saidbar is turned flatwise to release said rods and to allow theircontractile springs to draw them together. The notched surfaces are camshape so that after the turning movement of the locking bar has beenpartially performed as hereinafter described, the pressure of said rodsthereagainst will complete the turning of said lock bar and its removalfrom the path of said rods. At its transverse center said lock bar has anotch, 25, in what is its upper edge when in bar-locking position andslidable crosswise of said bar is a longitudinally extending rod, 26,with a shoulder, 27, in its under side adapted to engage the bottom ofsaid notch and start the turning movement of said lock bar to releasethe spring-actuated rods. At one end said releasing rod, 26, is slidablein a guide, 28, on the fuselage bottom and at its other end it ispivotally connected to the lower end of a hand lever, 29, that extendsupward through a hole in the bottom of the fuselage just forward of thechair so that the chair occupant may grasp the upper end of said handlever and swing it to accomplish the motions necessary to release theseat from the four latches and permit the expelling device or devices toact on the chair. I preferably connect with said hand lever the rear endof a rod, 30, that extends forward to the front of the airplane ormachine in position to be struck and pushedrearward in the event of acollision with another iiying machine and thereby automatically toeffect the release of the chair and its subsequent expulsion.

The chair as has been explained is equipped with a parachute 31, thesuspending cords, 32, of which are suitably attached to the side andrear edges of the chair seat,1l and which is so associated. with thechairL in a folded or collapsed statethat when the chair is projectedout intoA the air and begins to descend, the parachute willautomatically open. As a convenient way of storing the parachute readyfor use, I make the side and back walls of the chair hollow ordouble toprovide a storage space, 33, in which the parachute may be stored. Ipreferably equip the parachute with a supplemental or auxiliary smallparachute, 34, which initiates the removal of the main or supportingparachute. ,Said auxiliary small parachute, 34.-, is 'stored in theupper part of the chamber in the side and back walls of the chair andthe outer section 60 of the double 'wall is provided with perforations,35, to allow the free and ample flow of air-into contact with theauxiliary parachute whenthe 'chair begins to descend, to at once forcethe auxiliary parachute out of the 55 chamber and to initiate theopening thereof.

The top of the storage chamber in the chair walls is normally closed bya flap, 36, of leather or fabric which is fastened at its outer edge toan adjacent part of the fuselage and has its free edge tucked orinserted into the 'upper end of the chamber over the folded parachutetherein and is retained with suiiicient friction to prevent theaccidental outward passage of the parachute although readily moving outof the way under upward pressure from the folded parachute when theescape of the folded parachute is necessary.

The fiaps as they pass out act by friction to move the auxiliaryparachute out of the space, 23. To providel against possible delayed orslow release of the auxiliary parachute, a cord or rope or other meansreadily accessible to the chair occupant may be provided to start orhelp its movement.

Preferably some of the suspending cords of the auxiliary parachute areconnected to the chair seat and contribute to the support thereof. e

The chair, of course, can be expelled in other directions than upward,and the expelling means can be powerful springs or other agencies.

As I have already said, I do not confine the scope of my invention tothe particular construction and relation of parts which appear in thatembodiment of my invention which I have selected to illustrate theprinciple thereof.

1. A flying machine having a chair detachably connected therewith and achair expelling device acting to move the same when detached comprislngtension means extending beneath the chair and in contact with theunderside thereof transversely of the machine and secured to oppositesides 'of the latter a substantial distance above the bottom of thechair when the chair is in normal position and lock means to hold thechair in such normal position against the upward pull thereagainst ofsaid tension means comprising oppositely movable, chair-engaginglatches, spring means to release the latches and means to restrainaction of the s ring comprising spaced apart rods and a tiltable platelying between and oppositely engaging said rods, and means to tilt suchplate.

2. A flying machine having a chair detachably connected therewith, achai-r expelling device acting to move the same when detached and acollapsed parachute attached to the chair, the chair having a chamberedwall within which the collapsed parachute is stored, the chamber openingupward and a cover flap secured to an adjacent surface' of the machinewith a free edge extendingy into the chamber over the top portion of theparachute therein.

3. A flying machine having a chair delso I tachably connected therewith,a chair expell lin device acting to move the same when detac ed, andmeans actuated b a chair ocf cupant for detaching thechair comprisingoppositely movable,.latch devices engaging the chair bottom on oppositesides, spring means to release such latch devices, means to restrainactlon of the spring means compris-A ing spaced apart parallel rods anda tiltable plate lying between said rods and with opposite ends engagingthe respective rods, .a

lever within reach oi the chair occupant,V

and operative connections between said lever and said tiltable plate.

4. A flying machine having a chair detachably connected therewith, achair ex elling device acting to move the same w en detached, and acollapsed 'parachute attached tothe chair, said chair -having hollow.

walls containing the collapsed parachute.

5. A flying machine having a chair detachably connected therewith and achair expelling device acting to move the same when detached, acollapsed parachute attached to the chair and an auxiliary parachuteconnected with the otherparachute and serving to remove the latterfromthe chair, the chair having a chambered wall within which the collapsedparachutes are stored with the auxiliary parachute uppermost and meansfor access of air to the auxiliary parachuteto expelit from the chamber.

6. A ying machine having a chair detachably connected therewith and achair expelling device actinv to move the same when detached, a colapsedparachute at tached to the chair, an auxiliary parachute connected withthe other parachute and serving to remove the latter from the chair, the40' chair having a hollow vertical wall open at the top in which the twoparachutes are stored in a collapsed state with the auxiliary parachuteuppermost and in position first to move upward.

' In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

NICHOLAS P. BRUNO.

